Reference & AI

DAFI 51-304

Air Force

LEGAL ASSISTANCE, NOTARY, PREVENTIVE LAW, AND TAX PROGRAMS

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia, active-duty U.S. Air Force

DAFI 51-304, "LEGAL ASSISTANCE, NOTARY, PREVENTIVE LAW, AND TAX PROGRAMS", is a Department of the Air Force publication, dated February 12, 2026.

Published

February 12, 2026

OPR

AF/JA

Headquarters, Department of the Air Force

Official document

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DAFI 51-304 — index record

NumberDAFI 51-304
TitleLEGAL ASSISTANCE, NOTARY, PREVENTIVE LAW, AND TAX PROGRAMS
PublishedFebruary 12, 2026
Certified currentFebruary 12, 2026
Office of primary responsibilityAF/JA
Issued byHeadquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the indexCurrent
Last index actionRewrite, February 12, 2026
Source indexAir Force e-Publishing
Index last readOctober 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (22 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 51-3, Civil Law, Acquisition Law and Litigation. It describes the Department of the Air Force’s legal assistance, notary, preventive law, and tax programs. It applies to Regular Air Force units at all levels and Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units, except where otherwise noted, and the United States Space Force. This Department of the Air Force Instruction (DAFI) may be supplemented at any level, but all supplements that directly implement this instruction must be routed to the Legal Assistance Policy Division (AF/JACA) for coordination prior to certification and approval. Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the DAF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of Publication; route AF Form 847 from the field through the appropriate functional chain of command. This instruction requires the collection and or maintenance of information protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, authorized by Title 10

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been substantially revised and must be completely reviewed. Major changes include updating AFPD, AFI, and DAFI numbers and titles; adjusting inspection tiering requirements; clarifying persons who can perform and receive legal assistance and notary services; adding education law legal assistance; addressing the scope of legal assistance regarding employment matters and education law practice; providing guidance for the provision of remote legal assistance; providing guidance for the execution of a will drafted by a private attorney (under limited circumstances); clarifying the authority of military attorneys who have not yet been designated as judge advocates; requiring that legal assistance services be offered to eligible beneficiaries unless excepted; modifying terminology to include the Space Force; and adding new definitions. In addition, a new chapter on Education Law legal assistance has been added.

Contents

  1. Chapter 2—LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES: SCOPE AND ELIGIBILITYp. 7
  2. Chapter 4—NOTARIAL ACTS AND OATHSp. 19
  3. Chapter 5—PREVENTIVE LAW PROGRAMp. 23
  4. Chapter 6—TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMp. 25
  5. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 29
All 44 contents entries
  1. 1.1. Overviewp. 5
  2. 1.2. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 5
  3. Chapter 2—LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES: SCOPE AND ELIGIBILITYp. 7
  4. 2.1. Overviewp. 7
  5. 2.2. Scope of Attorney-Client Relationshipp. 7
  6. 2.3. Eligibility for Legal Assistancep. 8
  7. 2.4. Limiting Legal Assistance, Mandatory Legal Assistance, and Prioritizationp. 11
  8. 2.5. Legal Services Providedp. 12
  9. 2.6. Compliance Requirementsp. 12
  10. 2.7. Expanded Legal Assistance Program (ELAP)p. 14
  11. 3.1. Overviewp. 15
  12. 3.2. Communicationsp. 15
  13. 3.3. Professional Responsibilities and Rulesp. 15
  14. 3.4. Referralsp. 16
  15. 3.5. Legal Services Volunteersp. 17
  16. 3.6. Judge Advocate and Civilian Attorney Legal Assistance Training Requirementsp. 17
  17. 3.7. Records/Reportsp. 17
  18. 3.8. Protection of Personally Identifying Information (PII)p. 17
  19. 3.9. Virtual Legal Assistancep. 18
  20. 3.10. See Chapter 4 regarding use of remote and electronic notaryp. 18
  21. Chapter 4—NOTARIAL ACTS AND OATHSp. 19
  22. 4.1. Overviewp. 19
  23. 4.2. Notarial Actsp. 19
  24. 4.3. Military Notary Authorityp. 19
  25. 4.5. Individuals Eligible to Use Military Notary Servicesp. 20
  26. 4.6. Staff Judge Advocates Must:p. 20
  27. 4.7. Authenticity and Sealsp. 20
  28. 4.8. Oaths and Affirmationsp. 20
  29. 4.9. Notary Logsp. 21
  30. 4.10. Remote and Electronic Notaryp. 21
  31. Chapter 5—PREVENTIVE LAW PROGRAMp. 23
  32. 5.1. Overviewp. 23
  33. 5.2. Purposep. 23
  34. 5.3. Scopep. 23
  35. Chapter 6—TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAMp. 25
  36. 6.1. Overviewp. 25
  37. 6.2. Scopep. 25
  38. 6.3. Oversightp. 25
  39. 6.4. Eligible Beneficiariesp. 25
  40. 6.5. Reportingp. 26
  41. 7.1. Overviewp. 27
  42. 7.2. Scopep. 27
  43. 7.3. Education Law Legal Assistance Constructp. 27
  44. Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 29

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Air Force index

REF: DAFI 51-304, effective February 12, 2026

Air Force e-Publishing — DAFI 51-304

This is an index record, not the publication. The official PDF is the authority; verify the current edition before acting.

Reviewed by Guilherme Correia · Military Toolkit editorial

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